football

FORMER Cardiff City duo Lee Jarman and Lee Phillips have become the new player-management team at Aberaman Athletic.

The ex-Bluebirds pair, who have both played at the highest tier of the Welsh League, are looking to make their name in management and jumped at the chance of joining the ambitious Cynon Valley club.

Athletic’s previous manager, Matt Collins, departed on amicable terms after growing work commitments meant he could only manage the side once every four weeks.

But both Cardiff-born Jarman, 33, and Cwmdare’s Phillips, 32, hope to get the club back to the success of the 2008/09 season where they won the league but failed to gain promotion to the Premiership after failing floodlight regulations.

Jarman said: “We are both coming towards the latter stages of our playing careers, so we knew we would have to look for a player-coach role.

“This is an ideal opportunity for both of us that we couldn’t turn down. Money is tight, but that is the same all over the Welsh League. Everyone is struggling to bring in players, but with our contacts we should be able to add to the squad. We have to be realistic though.”

Jarman made 91 appearances for Cardiff City between 1995-1999. Last season he was at relegated Haverfordwest County in the Welsh Premier, who coincidentally Aberaman Athletic will be playing in their opening MacWhirter League Division One fixture.

Lee Phillips made 16 appearances for Cardiff City, his debut coming in a 3-2 win over Hartlepool Utd. The Mountain Ash-born utility player had been playing in the Welsh Premier for Llanelli and Carmarthen Town and captained Llanelli to the League Title during his first spell.

Phillips said: “I have done a bit of coaching with kids teams but nothing like this.

“Someone from the club told me there was a vacancy and asked me for advice more than anything. I put myself forward with Lee – we have been best mates and played together since we were 15.

“We always said we would like to have a crack together and as it was a local side to me the opportunity couldn’t have been better.”

The pair have brought in Mark Evans to help with the management, business and nutrition side of the club. The former Haverfordwest assistant coach will act as the voice on the touchline as the pair take to the field.

Preseason training began last Saturday at Aberaman Park, with the duo getting the first glimpse of their squad in action.

Chairman Richard Rowlands said: “We want to thank Matthew Collins for his commitment to the team.

“Both Jarman and Phillips were keen to get on the management rung and there were quite a few tricky negotiations initially.

“Our ambition is to get into the Welsh Premier. We have got everything in place for a promotion push.”